Mr. Chan's Clinic

There are a number of types of skin cancer. I have written previously about squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, and while both are serious and require immediate treatment, the most dangerous form of skin cancer is undoubtedly melanoma.

While we tend to think of skin cancer as just one illness, there are in fact a number of types of cancer under this single umbrella. In Ireland, the most common skin cancers are what we call non-melanoma skin cancers. According to the Irish Cancer Society, there were close to 10,000 non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed here in 2013.

There are numerous types of skin cancer and it is always a good idea to be aware of what to look out for as regards changes in the appearance of your skin. Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common types of skin cancer here, with the Irish Cancer Society reporting that there were almost 10,000 non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed in Ireland in 2013.

For patients, being told that they may or do have a skin cancer such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma is obviously a stressful and worrying time. Many questions begin to move around in their heads, and those close to the patient will undoubtedly also be very concerned. However, every patient is different and it is important to remember that there are many forms and stages of skin cancer, so it is important that you try not to worry too much.

You may have heard someone refer to a ‘stage’ of skin cancer, or indeed any sort of cancer. What does this mean? In a nutshell, it refers to how big the cancer is and whether it has spread or not. It’s an important scale, which helps your doctor or GP decide on what course of treatment is best for a patient’s particular condition.

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IRISH CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON

Mr.Fuan Chan MD FRCSI(Plast)

Mr. Fuan Chan is a fully accredited consultant plastic surgeon. He has been based in Dublin, Ireland since 1997. Fully committed to providing individualized patient care starting from the first consultation right through to the post-operative recovery and follow-up period.